Ghanaian motorists are paying up to GH¢0.60 extra on every litre of fuel because the country relies on a single major discharge point at Tema, according to the Centre for Environmental Management and Sustainable Energy, which is calling for the immediate development of an alternative mooring facility to ease congestion and bring down pump prices.
In a press statement issued on November 5, 2026, the energy think tank highlighted how a 15-year exclusive arrangement granted to a South African firm back in 2015 has effectively blocked competing infrastructure investments, leaving Ghana's downstream supply chain exposed to mounting delays and unnecessary costs.
Infrastructure Frozen as Imports Surge
The numbers laid out by CEMSE present a stark mismatch between demand growth and infrastructure capacity.
Product supply jumped 73 percent from 3,528,583 metric tonnes in 2015 to 6,089,046 metric tonnes in 2025, yet mooring capacity has seen zero expansion over that same period.
During the same decade, the number of Bulk Oil Distribution and Export Companies active in Ghana grew from 37 to 53, a 43 percent increase.
Cross-border transit volumes heading to northern neighbours rose by roughly 40 percent, alongside crude oil imports by Sentuo Oil Refinery, Tema Oil Refinery, and BOST.
That concentration means a single facility in Tema now handles about 75 percent of all petroleum product imports into the country, creating an operational bottleneck that regularly traps cargo vessels offshore.
Demurrage Costs Hit Motorists at the Pump
The operational congestion comes at an enormous financial cost. CEMSE reported that cumulative demurrage exposure reached approximately US$61.6 million in 2025, compared with historical annual averages around US$35 million.
Daily demurrage charges now average roughly US$45,000, with first-half 2025 charges alone reaching US$21.6 million.
So far in 2026, year-to-date demurrage costs have hit US$46.73 million. CEMSE calculates that these charges translate directly into an avoidable cost burden of between GH¢0.47 and GH¢0.60 per litre of fuel, accounting for 2.63 percent to 3.35 percent of retail pump prices.
"The implication is that petroleum users would have been paying less and saving at least GHC 0.47 on a liter of petroleum products if the cost of discharging is reduced through additional infrastructure and improved operational efficiency." - CEMSE
While other supporting jetties exist and operate across the country, CEMSE emphasized that their presence has done little to resolve the fundamental capacity deficit.
A Single Asset Threatens National Supply Security
CEMSE warned that relying on a single primary discharge point leaves Ghana's entire energy security vulnerable to disruption, arguing that a modern downstream sector cannot afford to have 75 percent of its import capacity tied to one asset.
"The development of a dedicated alternative mooring facility would provide additional discharge capacity, diversify infrastructure access, improve operational flexibility and potentially reduce the sector's exposure to congestion and prolonged vessel waiting times." - CEMSE
The think tank stressed that such a delay cannot continue as the 15-year exclusivity deal enters its final three years.
Review Exclusivity Deal and Clear Private Investment Path
To fix the problem, CEMSE wants the government to immediately review the existing exclusivity arrangement to understand its full impact on prospective private infrastructure investments.
It also wants regulatory and institutional roadblocks removed so that credible private investors can step in with capital.
"Ghana's petroleum supply security should not depend excessively on a limited number of critical infrastructure assets," CEMSE argued.
It added that alternative discharge facilities must be formally built into the country's long-term energy security plan with clear timelines and firm regulatory oversight. "The time for a clear policy direction and decisive action is now," the statement concluded.
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